You may notice that many themes these days have an image for the blog name instead of just having wordpress use the title of your blog. This tutorial will walk you through creating a new header image without using photoshop.
Step 1. Identify the size of your logo image.
When you upload your theme you’ll generally find the blog name image is called “logo.png”. The first step in this process is to find out what size that image file is so you can create a new one that will fit the space exactly.
To do this right click on the image that is there. You’ll see many options, choose to “view image info” or something similar. This will open a new window where you can get the information about what size the header image is.
As you can see the size of this image is 410 x 54.
Step 2. Create a New Image
I use a free program called Instant Banner Creator for this step. Let’s walk through the steps to creating this new image logo.
1. Log in to instant banner creator.
2. Choose create new graphics.
3. Choose Create a new banner
4. Choose DIY banner
5. Input the size of the image you want (the number we found in the last step)
6. If you want the header background color to come through click transparent.
7. click use background.
8. Follow these steps to actually create your banner.
3. Download your banner.
Find your new banner amongst the banners you’ve created and click the download button. This will move it to your computer. Make sure you rename it something that makes sense to you in the downloading process.
4. Upload your new banner to your server.
- Open your ftp client (I use fireftp) and then open the folder for your specific site.
- connect to your server.
- find the folder for the site you’re working on.
- when the folder is open click wp-content –> themes –> the theme you’re working on –> images.
- find the logo image you just downloaded on the left hand side of your ftp client.
- change the name of the image to the same name the logo in your theme has.
You can look at the image by right clicking and choosing view ~ to see if it’s the right one.
- Move the newly renamed logo you created to the right side of your ftp. (click on it once to highlight it, then click the arrow button of the direction you want to move it)
- it will ask if you want to overwrite, choose overwrite.
5. Check out your new logo.
Go back to your site to see your new logo. (you’ll have to refresh the page) 
Now you know how to create a new logo image for your site. If you have any questions please feel free to ask in the comments section and I’ll do my best to answer. Just remember I’m not a graphics person.
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Thanks for the tutorial. I have a permanent linky on my blog for blogging/computer tutorials. I’ve linked this post to that. If you have any other great blogging/computer tutorials, feel free to link them up!
Michelle
http://www.heartfeltbalancehandmadelife.com/p/blogging-tutorials.html
Michelle´s last [type] ..Jaycee’s Tiered Spring Skirt with Link to Tutorial
Hi Jackie, thanks very much for this tutorial! I followed the steps and it works. This is a great post that’s really helpful for people who don’t have photoshop experience and not ready to hire a graphic designer.
Janus@build online business´s last [type] ..How To Build Your Business With Content Marketing
Nice, easy solution for bloggers who don’t have any photoshop skills and no budget to hire a designer.
Found your page on google and it really helped me in creating a banner! Thanks for sharing!
Cyle´s last [type] ..The Moon In Focus
All those hours spent in Photoshop banging my head on the walls because i couldn’t get the banner right…
Saved my life with this program, Jackie.
Martin@CDL Exam´s last [type] ..Getting your CDL and Having Insulin Diabetes
I find Photoshop and the like a bit too much for doing very simple things, so I appreciate you informing us of Instant Banner Creator. I have a few blogs that would look and feel better with an actual logo.
This is very helpful! I’m a noob with Photoshop so anything automatic’s great. LOL!
Karen@Lån´s last [type] ..Bankrådgiveren- Huskeliste til dig der søger forbrugslån
This is great for newbies. Very easy and simple tutorial guide. Header image is very important for it will be the first thing that visitors see from your blog. Nice share.
Great tutorial, thanks for pointing out exactly how to do it, Photoshop needs so much of learning before one can freely use it… great for newbies.
Hiya, I’m really glad I’ve found this info. Today bloggers publish only about gossip and web stuff and this is actually frustrating. A good web site with interesting content, that’s what I need. Thank you for making this website, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters? I Can not find it.
This seems real quick and easy to use I do some online advertising some times this would work great to get a ad up fast. Some times I buy them impulsive.
I like using the 2010 WordPress theme and the super simple add new header function. This banner creation tool will make it easier to customize a blog nicely.
I do that too… and yes it works wonderfully for that!!
I’d never seen that before, nice tool. Some of the headers actually look pretty good, though I’m still a big fan of Photoshop
. Still, for designing a simple header that’s probably a lot easier to use, not to mention cheaper.
Another simplest way to create a header image is by MS Paint. In MS Paint, header images are simpler but you cannot create a nicer and more complex headers.
Not using photoshop is music to my ears. I spend hours on photoshop and end up with horrible design. Thanks for the advice, quicker and easier headers is a great thing.
Thanks for this informative tutorial.Having limited techniques regarding this made me spend some time learning some courses regarding the basics of creating headers and banners.
thanks for the cool tutorial on making a header image.
Thanks for sharing this information. I will use these tips for making blogs better.
Hi, thanks for sharing this tips about creating banners and header with out using photoshop. I’ve tried these steps to my blogs and it really works.
Alesandra @ hansel and gretel costumes´s last [type] ..Adult Gretel Costume
Wow, this is a great article. I have been wondering if there’s a way to do a banner without using photoshop and now I know how. Thanks for sharing!
I think this can be the answer to my graphics problem. Im developing a web site, and as I create my draft, im having problems with the graphics. Thanks for your great information.
Unless you’re using a wordpress theme that uses the image in the header section you don’t really need this. There are tons of themes that just use your title as the title in the header. There’s really no need for courses for the basics. This is the basics.
.-= Jackie´s last blog ..You Can Not Be Thin If You Feel Fat =-.
Good tutorial. My experience with these techniques is very limited. Sometimes I think I’ll have to spend some time by taking some courses to learn the basics.
Thanks! good post, here’s another good free logo and header- //creatr.cc/creatr/
Thank you Jackie for this post! I have often wondered how to change some of my headers without paying a programmer and now I know. Hope you have a great week!
.-= KarenRison@MichaelOher.us´s last blog ..Interview with Bob Costas =-.
Well this tutorial was specific to those themes that give you the logo image for the site name ~ this is how create your own and swap it out. I don’t know anything about the fluid/fixed stuff. lol
Me either. My theme is custom made but surely not by me. LOL
I’ll save this info just in case it can be used.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..UPDATED: Theme Customization Part 3 – Banner Advertising NOT for Sale! =-.
Yes! Anything labeled “without photoshop” gets my vote and instantly hits my resource file.
I however may have issues here. My entire header is fixed or fluid, something like that, so changing anything is difficult at best.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Theme Customization Part 3 – Banner Advertising NOT for Sale! =-.
I love this post!
I have not read through it yet, but oh you have no idea how badly I have been wanting a step by step process for changing my header! I will without a doubt be changing my header this week. Thanks Jackie! You have no idea how much I owe ya, lol
As a side note… I have a simple request for you, but time is running out as it has to do with a march madness pool competition. Free entry, prizes awarded. May we discuss this through e-mail? PLEASE do not feel you are obligated to do anything… just give me a chance
Thanks again for all your advice!
-Todd
.-= Todd´s last blog ..March Madness Pool – Enter For A Chance to Win A Vacation! =-.
I had joined Instant Banner Creator quite a while ago and honestly forgot all about it until I tried to create another account. Thanks for the post. With the Instant Banner Creator I had created some buttons that I used on a couple of my websites.
The timing is great for me because I have recently been looking for a new header image for one of my niche sites and this might do just fine. I still can’t beleive I forgot all about this one.
- Rick
.-= Rick Byrd @ MarketingWithRick.com´s last blog ..7 Link Building No-No’s for Bloggers =-.
I think I did it all right. I used the same which for mine was logo.jpg and when it asked if I wanted to replace the old image file, I said yes. The header that is showing up looks like a photo and I am thinking it somehow has to get removed. I can get support, and will do that tomorrow in a forum or something.
I bought the themes through the niche blogger, Amy’s link for about $5.00
( reasonable) I started getting email which I think was through your affiliate link, and then I was able to get a three month scholarship there that I am thrilled to have.
I have to thank you for that because right now, I don’t have the cash to join.
It is how the miracles keep coming in this quest to make it on line.
It is not something you can do alone, it seems. Too complex.
Thanks
.-= Debbie Schooley´s last blog ..A Fun Website To Visit =-.
Did you make sure you named your new logo the SAME thing the logo they are using? That way it overwrites theirs when you upload yours? I have never used adsense ready themes because I don’t really use much adsense so unfortunately I can’t help much. If you bought them do they offer support?
Thanks Jackie,
I was just trying to figure this out yesterday. Funny how that works.
I am experimenting with the Super Adsense Themes that I just bought a bunch of for a pretty reasonable sum. I like them for their adsense layout above the posts, and for a few other features they have, but I am not finding them as easy as the free WP themes to use so far. The header does not change to my blog title when add it under the settings tab. The old logo stays up with the original language on it like shopping theme for example.
I tried your way of uploading a logo, but the original image is still there. I think there is something I have to remove in the theme editor to get it to show up, but so far I have no idea what it is.
If anyone has experience with using these themes or similiar ones with this issue, I sure would appreciate knowing what I am doing wrong.
I am looking forward to trying your way of doing this on the free WP themes I am used to.
Thanks so much for the information.
.-= Debbie Schooley´s last blog ..A Fun Website To Visit =-.
Hey, thanks for the cool tip on creating banners and headers. Besides the youtube video I am glad that i stumbled upon the free program instant banner creator. I guess using it wisely will pay off and also I dont have to spend large money on other image editing programs.
.-= Melvin@Houses For Rent Auckland´s last blog ..Otahuhu, Auckland City =-.